SMOKERS TOLD NOT TO APPLY FOR JOBS
It’s technically discrimination, but more and more job ads are cropping up telling smokers they need not apply for work. And they’re not just jobs in the health industry, either. They’re for positions as receptionists, disability workers, drivers, personal trainers.
Acting Victorian Equal Opportunity Commissioner Karen Toohey said job advertisements must not discriminate.
“Stipulating smokers need not apply for a job may be against the law. Employers should not seek to exclude smokers from applying for a position, unless the need not to smoke is an inherent requirement of the role,” she said.
It’s led to arguments about smokers’ productivity in the workplace. So, where do you stand?
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Top Comments
This is absolutely ridiculous!!!
YES of course it is discrimination.
The people that shout the loudest about smokers taking smoke breaks etc, are most likely the ones that will be chatting loudly with co workers in the office, taking millions of 'coffee breaks'.
There are hundreds of things that are annoying at work people. Smoking is only one of them. Grow up
I'm a beauty therapist. We have one girl on our team who smokes and it's a joke when she tries to cover it up. I'm sorry, but no amount of chewing gum, hand washing, deodorant, perfume etc can remove the odour. Non-smokers can pick it up a mile away. If it were up to me, smokers would be banned from working for our business. Nobody wants gross smokers' hands on their face or body while having a beauty treatment. Yuck!!